Coconut-shredding machine



H. G. copi-:R

cocoNUT lSHREDDING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet J- H. G. CODER COCONUT SHREDDING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/TNESSES Patented Oct. V14, 1924.

HENRY G. OUDER, 0F CITY, NEW JERSEY.

i COCONUT-SHBEDDNG MACHINE.

Application filed July 3,

To all/whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. Comin, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Coconut-Shredding Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and` exact description.'

This invention relates to improvements in coconut shredding machines, and has for one 0f its objects the provision of a machine ofcomparatively simple and eiiicient construction, in which coconuts will be rapidly shredded'. v

Another object is to provide ak machine in which coconuts are alternately fed toa plurality of shredding mechanisms by means of reciprocating feeding members associated" with saidmechanisms. n

Another object is to so construct the machine that only a single coconut will be fed from a hopper to each of the shredding mechanisms upon each actuation of the feeding member associated with said mechanism.

A further object is to control the operation of the feeding members by a mechanism common thereto. y

A still further object is to feed a vcoconut to-a shredding mechanism in such manner that as the coconut is being shredded it will be held against movement similar to that imparted to said mechanism.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description, when taken in connection with theV accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the inventive idea. l

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; i

Figurefi is a section on the line 1 -4L of Figure 2 with the feeding member in its operated position;

Figure 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating the manner in which a coconut is fed to the shredding mechanism;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure 3 showing the operation o-f the shredding mechanism; and j Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 1923. Serial No. 649,322.

ing 11 the frame supports the bearing -mem- 1 bers13 in `which the main drive shaft 14 isl ournaled, said shaft carrying a drive pulley 15, which may be connected to any suitable., source of power'.l One end of the shaft y14 projects beyond one ofthe bearings 13 andv carries upon its projecting lend the balance wheelv 16. Secured to the portion of the shaft 1li betweenthe outer bearing 13 and the wheel 16 is a gear 17 which meshes with the upper and lower gears 18l andv` 19 carried, respectively,l by the shafts 2O and 21, which are also journaled in the bearings '13 and which extend through the adjacent wall of the housing 11 and carry at their extremities the shredding, mechanisms 12. To further support the shafts 20 and 21 the same may be provided with thrust bearings 22 mounted in one wall of Vthe housing 11. Thus, through the medium of the gears 17, 18 andk 19, it will be obvious that rotation of they shaft 111 ywill be imparted to the shafts20 and 21 to drive the same in the same direction and thus rotate the shredding kmechanisms to shred the coconuts as the same are yfed thereto, after which the shredded coconut is permitted to fall into a suitable` receptacle locatedv beneath the outlet end 23 of the housing 11. w

`Associated withk each of the shredding mechanisms 12 is a cylinder 24arranged on theside of the housing 11 opposite that on which' the mechanism for rotating the shafts 20 and 21 islocated and extending laterally from they housing, one end of the cylinder being disposed contiguous to the vshredding mechanism. A section 25 of each` cylinder adjacent the shredding mechanism is removablyassociatedl with the remaining portion of the cylinder and is utilized, as best illustrated in Figurey 3, to secure acoconut engaging element 26 in operative position.; This element 26 is preferably in the form of a plate and'is disposed ina cylinder andin advance' 'of `,the shredding plane-'coincident with the diameter of the lmechanism as 'the vcoconut` is fed tol the latter. The forward end oi the plate 26 is provided with a imite edge i?? which designed 'to taciiitatel the penetration ot the coconut as it is being :ted to the shredding mechanism so that anj,T movement of the coconut, except longitudinallJT ot the cylinder, is prevented. rIhe coconut Will thus be held against movement similar to that imparted to the shredcing mechanism so that said mechanism Will be effective in shredding the coconut as the latter is ted thereto.

Each ot the mechanisms l2 includes a head 2S having an opening 29 in Which is disposed a pluralitv oil' angular bars 8O arranged radiallyv with respect to the asis ot rotation ot the head 28 and provided upon the edge which projects beyond the head with a plurality of teeth 3l utilized to shred the, coconut, as indicated in Figure 6. Each of the bars 30 is held in position by means or" suit-able clamping devices 32 secured to the head 2S by ascrevv Associated with the teeth 3l of each bar is a cutting device 34 disposed in the opening 29 and extending diagonally' therethrough With the cutting edge thereof arranged contiguous to the teeth 3l so that as the head 28 is rotated in. the direction of t-he arrow, indicated in Figure 3; the cutting edge ot the device 3st will sever the shredded portions oi2 the coconut and permit such portions to pass through the opening 29 into the housing ll and thence thi'oiilgh the outlet 23 thereof.

In Figure T a slightly different form ot shredding mechanism isv disclosed, inwhich the shredding bars 30 are dispensed with. and a vcutting deviceA 34V is mounted in the opening 29" 'of the head 2S and disposed in such position. that the cutting edge thereof Will cut the coconut into thin strips Which will also fall into a receptacle beneath the outlet 23.

Each ot' the cylinders 2Liis provided With a hopper 35 intermediate the ends thereof into Which other coconut-s may be deposited preparatory to the same being fed to the shredding mecoanisn'i. The means for feeding a coconut to the shredding mechanism preferably includes a plunger 36 mounted for ieciprocation in each of the cylinders 2e and providedk therein with a lateral openin@ 37, the outer end or ivhich communicates With the hopper when vthe. plunger is in an advance position, as shown in Figure 5, so that anylpaifticles not capable ot being shredded, suoli. as portions of t-he shell which might accideutall3- be deposited in the hopper, will pass outwardly through the opening 87 instead of. being Wedge-d between the forward end of the plunger and the yshredding machanism.` B v reason ot this construction, it will be obvious that possible damage to the shredding mechanism or otherparts ofthe machine Will be avoidl-id'.y

Each plunger is provided With. a rearwardly extending cover or hood 38 which is designed to overlap or cover the opening between the interior ot the cylinder and the hopper 35 Whe-n the plungert is in an advance posit-ion. By thus closing communication between the hopper and cylinder While one coconut is being shredded in said cylinder, it Will be obvious that no other coconut will be permit-ted to enter the cylinder behind thev plunger 86 during the course of a shredding' operation. However, upon retract-ion ot' the plunger 36 after a cocoinit has been completely shredded the cover 325 and plunger Will be moved to such a position as to permit another coconut to enter the cylinder 24': from the hopper.

'lhe invention further contemplates the provision of means for reciprocating the plungers so that the same Will alternately` 'feed coconuts mechanisms. To this end, each plunger is provided With a rod 39 having its forward end secured tothe plunger by means of a set sci Av 4l) and having mounted upon its rear end the forward end'olt a rack 4l. The' toothed edges otl the racks 41 kozt the upper and lower plungers are opposed7 as clearly. shown in Figure l, and the lower rack ll is supgpiorted upon a roller 42 carried by the tronic l0, While the upper rack isslidablgv mounted in a guide i3 carried by said frame. Secured on opposite sides of each rack Lll are guide plates Lle- Which extend longitudinally of the rack to prevent lateral movement;A thereotl -with respect to vthe oscillator' gear do mounted on the shaft-46 `in the guide 43 and utilized to reciprocate said racks and consequently the plungersA 36.

'lhe meel anism 'tor oscillating the gear to the respective shredding.,

45 preferablyY comprises a. disk 47 carried by the shat't -lt and having a pitman-connection 4 8 with a similar disk t9 supported on the stub shaft 50. The stub shaft 50 also carries a vrorm Wheel shown yin dotted .lines at 5l. which is en;T `rged by a Worm 52 carried by one end ot an operating shaft 53, Which end is mounted in a. suit-aldo bear-.ing 5st. The shaft extends longitudinalljg7 ot the trame and has other end mounted in a suitable bearing rllhe latter' end of the shaft suppoi .r 55 which meshes With sii gear o4 carried by the main drive shaft lllso that rotation of the 'lat-ter shaft will be imparted to the shaft 53 to drive the gearing 5l and lt `will thus be obvious that as the gear .5l is continuousliv rotated to d rive the shaft 50 an oscillatorvv movement Will be imparted from the rotating disl: through the pitman t8 toV the dish l? and consequently the gea-r 45, which latter element will then reciprocate the reel-ts By arranging the racks as shown in Figure l7 it Will be apparent that as the plunger 36 .in the upper cylinder isy lll) being advanced to engage a coconut in said of hinged at 58 so as to permit of access toy the housing in order tomake repairs to the shredding mechanism if foundA necessary. The bearings for the various shafts maybe provided with closures V59 through which lubricant may be supplied to said bearings.

VVha-t is claimed is:

1. In a coconut shredding machine, a shredding l mechanism, means for feeding coconuts thereto, and means controlled dui*- ing an operation of said feeding means for preventing the feeding of more than one coconut to said shredding mechanism.

2. In a coconut shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, means for feeding coconuts to said shredding mechanism, a hopper from which the coconuts are fed to said feeding means, and means controlled by an operation of said feeding means for preventing inore than one coconut being fed from the hopper to the feeding means.

3. In a coconut shredding machine, a plurality of shredding mechanisms, a cylinder associated with each mechanism, reciprocatory means in said cylinders for alternately feeding coconuts to said mechanisms, and means associated with said reciprocatory means for preventing the feeding of more than one coconut to said cylinders upon each operation of said reciprocatory means.

4. In a coconut shredding machine, a frame, a housing on said frame, shredding mechanisms in said housing, means arranged on one side of said housing for operating said shredding mechanisms, cylinders eX- tending from the opposite side of said housing, reciprocating means in said cylinders for feeding coconuts to said shredding mechanisms, and means common tothe last named means for alternately operating the same.

5. In a coconut shredding machine, a plurality of shredding mechanisms, a cylinder associated with each mechanism, reciprocating plungers in said cylinders for alternately feeding coconuts to said shredding mechanisms, racks connected to said'plungers, an oscillatory member engageable with said racks for reciprocating the same, and means for oscillating said member.

6. In a coconut shredding machine, a plurality of shredding mechanisms, a cylinder associated with each mechanism, reciprocating plungers insa-id cylinders for alternately feeding coconuts to said shreddingk mechanisms, racks connected to said plungers, an oscillatory member engageable with said racks for reciprocating the same, a rotary member, a pitman connection between said rotaryiand oscillatory members for operating the latter, and a worm shaft and gear foractuating said rotary member.

7. In a'coconut shredding machine, a cylf inder into wliicha coconut to beshredded is deposited, *a shredding mechanism in said cylinder, means for feeding thel coconut longitudinally of said cylinder toi-said shredv ding mechanism, and means penetrating said coconut in advance of its engagement with said shredding mechanism for holdingv the-same against movement similar to that of said shredding mechanism while the coconut is being shredded.

8. In a coconut shredding machine, a cylinder into which acoconut to be shredded is deposited, a shredding mechanism in said cylinder, means for feeding the coconut longitudinally of said cylinder to said shreddin mechanism, and means arranged in the pat of movement of the coconut as the same is fed longitudinally of said cylinder to penetrate said coconut` and retain the same against any other than said longitudinal movement during the shredding operation.

9. In a coconut y shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, a cylinder associated therewith and having a hopper for receiving coconuts to be fed to said shredding mechanism, means operable within said cylinder for feeding the coconuts tosaid mechanism, and means carried by the last named means to prevent the feeding of more than` one coconut from said hopper to said cylinder upon each operation of said last named means.

10. In a coconut shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, a cylinder associated therewith and having a hopper for receiving coconuts to be fed to said shredding mechanism, means operable within said cylinder for feeding the coconuts to said mechanism,

and a cover operated by they last named means for closing communication between said hopper and cylinder while a coconut is being fed to said shredding mechanism.

11. In a coconut shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, a cylinder -associated therewith and having a hopper for receiving coconuts to be fed to said shredding mechanism, a reciprocating plunger in said cylinder for feeding coconuts to said mechanism, anda cover carried by said plunger for closing communication between said hopper and cylinder while theplunger is feedinga coconutto said mechanism. y i

12. In a coconut shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, a cylinder associated therewith, and a reciprocating plunger in' said cylinder for feeding a coconut to said mechanism, said plunger having an opening therein into which unshreddable particles c nut to said mechanism.

13.y a coconut shredding machine, a shredding mechanism, means for feeding a coconut to said mechanism, and means engageble with the coconut in advance of the shredding operation and with respect to which said coconut is movable as it is being shredded for preventing movement of said coconut similar to that of said shredding mechanism.

14. In a coconutshnedding machine, a shredding mechanism, means for feed-'mg a coconut to sai-d mechanism, and means penetra-ting said coconut in advance of the shred-` ding operation and withV respect to Whichsaid coconut is mov-able as it is being shred ded to hold said coconut against movement similar to that of said shredding mechanism.

l5. In a coconut shredding machine, a

shredding mechanism, a member operable to feed a coconut to `said mechanism and having an opening therein into Which unshreddable Y 

